Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="Sanguinemetaldawn" data-source="post: 2576402" data-attributes="member: 23390">This is interesting, if it is true.I am certain WotC (and Hasbro) identify FR as part of their base value.&nbsp; If this is true, then WotC will have to continue to publish FR, or forfeit a significant chunk of value.&nbsp; Can anyone verify this?&nbsp; It would substantially alter the outlook (at least for FR).True enough, but does Hasbro look at D&amp;D the way it does its other properties?I don't think so.&nbsp; D&amp;D is certainly not a &quot;toy&quot; in the traditonal sense.While I agree with you on a few points, I do not agree with your conclusions, especially given the evidence I cited previously.Actually, I did state this previously...6-15 months was my guess.&nbsp; Thats based on the assumption that D&amp;D is still profitable right now, but is in a slow decline phase.&nbsp; Of course, the postulate is only as good as the assumption its based on.Even this I don't have confidence in.&nbsp; I could certainly believe it if it was confirmed by someone reputable, but I just don't know enough about WotC's novel divison to have an informed opinion.Well, maybe novels and minis do bring in enough to make D&amp;D worthwhile to Hasbro.Keep in mind what I am postulating here:&nbsp; that Hasbro will keep the D&amp;D license until they deem it not profitable, then cut it loose, and that they are positioning themselves for that right now.There are many possible variations on this scenario.&nbsp; Maybe it takes 24 months instead of 15 months.&nbsp; Maybe they kill the RPG line, but keep the minis and novels line active.&nbsp; Maybe they sell the novel rights, because they consider publishing outside their core business.And the conclusion of your model is that nothing would ever be sold in the business world, because anything worth buying would not be for sale.&nbsp; However, this is clearly untrue.I suspect D&amp;D is reaching a convergence of the two.&nbsp; It is still profitable (but not very) and Hasbro has a dim outlook on its future.&nbsp; What I read, and the anectodal evidence I have supports this view.&nbsp; But its still speculation.Really, what spurred me to start this thread was the bizarre handling of Greyhawk, and putting together scenario where their actions make sense.People are postulating 4E will be a &quot;toy-like&quot; D&amp;D, based on Hasbro's stance.&nbsp; My opinion is that Hasbro does not view D&amp;D as part of its core business model, and just plain don't want to deal with it.&nbsp; Unlike Pokemon and Magic TG.&nbsp; We'll see.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Sanguinemetaldawn, post: 2576402, member: 23390"] This is interesting, if it is true. I am certain WotC (and Hasbro) identify FR as part of their base value. If this is true, then WotC will have to continue to publish FR, or forfeit a significant chunk of value. Can anyone verify this? It would substantially alter the outlook (at least for FR). True enough, but does Hasbro look at D&D the way it does its other properties? I don't think so. D&D is certainly not a "toy" in the traditonal sense. While I agree with you on a few points, I do not agree with your conclusions, especially given the evidence I cited previously. Actually, I did state this previously...6-15 months was my guess. Thats based on the assumption that D&D is still profitable right now, but is in a slow decline phase. Of course, the postulate is only as good as the assumption its based on. Even this I don't have confidence in. I could certainly believe it if it was confirmed by someone reputable, but I just don't know enough about WotC's novel divison to have an informed opinion. Well, maybe novels and minis do bring in enough to make D&D worthwhile to Hasbro. Keep in mind what I am postulating here: that Hasbro will keep the D&D license until they deem it not profitable, then cut it loose, and that they are positioning themselves for that right now. There are many possible variations on this scenario. Maybe it takes 24 months instead of 15 months. Maybe they kill the RPG line, but keep the minis and novels line active. Maybe they sell the novel rights, because they consider publishing outside their core business. And the conclusion of your model is that nothing would ever be sold in the business world, because anything worth buying would not be for sale. However, this is clearly untrue. I suspect D&D is reaching a convergence of the two. It is still profitable (but not very) and Hasbro has a dim outlook on its future. What I read, and the anectodal evidence I have supports this view. But its still speculation. Really, what spurred me to start this thread was the bizarre handling of Greyhawk, and putting together scenario where their actions make sense. People are postulating 4E will be a "toy-like" D&D, based on Hasbro's stance. My opinion is that Hasbro does not view D&D as part of its core business model, and just plain don't want to deal with it. Unlike Pokemon and Magic TG. We'll see. [/QUOTE]

Verification